For decades, U.S. personal watercraft racing has struggled with fragmented leadership, inconsistent rules, and waning visibility. However, an announcement earlier this week regarding a new race series is promising to shake up that status quo.
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is launching the IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series (PWRS), set to debut in 2026 with a minimum $250,000 prize pool and a national tour spanning surf, lakes, and rivers. Built around both stand-up and runabout competition, the series will integrate with select IHRA Offshore Powerboat Racing events to create action-packed weekends for racers and fans alike.
Dustin Farthing—multi-time world champion, veteran racer, and seasoned powersports businessman—is stepping into the role of Managing Director. This marks his first foray into professional watercraft promotion on a national scale – the latest waypoint on a path traversing more than three decades of racing experience. His race career started in 1992 when he moved from early dirt track experience in motocross to the water after his father took in an old 550 watercraft on trade.
“More than 30 years later, we’re still here — still attending races — now with my dad, my wife, and my sons all alongside me,” he told The Watercraft Journal.
The Motivation for Change
In an interview conducted on Christmas Eve, Farthing explained why he decided to take on the challenge.
“We’ve been incredibly fortunate. We’ve won at the highest level, worked with the best sponsors in the world, and lived a dream most people never get close to. But with that privilege comes responsibility,” he said.
It’s that blend of experience, perspective, and obligation that made the timing feel right for Farthing to take on a challenge of this scale.
“The reason now is simple: if I don’t do it, who will? I’ve spent years bringing sponsors into the sport through my race team and waiting for promoters and sanctioning bodies to evolve,” Farthing said. “At some point, you either accept the status quo — or you step up.”
Promotion isn’t entirely new to Farthing. In the early 2000s, he ran a regional series called the Hot Water Tour in Region 7, drawing more than 200 racers per weekend. Now, stepping onto a national stage with the IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series, he sees a moment for real change.
A Partnership Built on Passion and Logic
The vision for a national watercraft series didn’t come overnight. Farthing brought the idea to Thomas Covington, a longtime friend whose expertise spans motocross, off-road racing, and other powersports disciplines, giving the venture a foundation that goes beyond any single sport.
“That process started several months ago, and it wasn’t an easy sell. I won’t lie — even convincing Thomas to take on more work with no guaranteed outcome wasn’t simple. But I’ve always been persuasive when I believe in something,” Farthing said. “We explored several different versions of what this could be and spent months figuring out who the right partners really were. Along the way, we kept moving chess pieces until everything finally fit together. What we’re announcing now is a refined, executable version of that original whiteboard idea — built on experience instead of theory.”
Together, Farthing and Covington pitched the plan to the IHRA — an intentional choice. By partnering with the IHRA, the series gains access to decades of powersports business acumen, operational experience, and national event infrastructure, combined with leadership that understands racing – and racers.
“Some new people have come in with passion, but passion alone isn’t enough. What’s been missing are resources, structure, and an understanding of how to sell an idea and build a vision people believe in,” Farthing said. ”The lesson is simple: passion without structure fails, and structure without passion goes nowhere. You need both. IHRA was the right partner because Darryl Cuttell and Leah Martin genuinely have the racing bug. This isn’t just about making money for them. It starts with a real love of racing and a lifetime of involvement. Yes, we’re in business to be profitable — but once you find something you truly love, profitability becomes a byproduct, not the goal.”
It’s that combination of racer insight and organizational discipline that Farthing believes can finally bridge the gap between adrenaline on the water and a professionally run, sustainable national tour.
Visibility in Action
The IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series isn’t just about creating another standalone tour. Select events will be integrated into IHRA Offshore Powerboat Racing weekends, creating multi-discipline race weekends designed to give fans a fuller, more engaging experience — and racers a professionally structured environment.
Farthing describes what that looks like on the water: “You’ll see a mix of endurance and closed-course racing, depending on the venue, integrated with powerboat events. Our goal is to create a better show during downtime between powerboat weekends while still having some stand-alone events away from boats.”
Historically, these types of integrated events have struggled. Large tracks, poor visibility, limited live streaming, and minimal fan engagement often left both racers and spectators frustrated. Farthing sees those challenges as opportunities.
“The biggest problem in watercraft racing is visibility — being able to watch it online, understand what’s happening on site, and know where racers are during the event. Spectators don’t want to sit for 15 hours to watch racing. We’re building something that works for racers and fans,” Farthing said.
By combining on-water action, improved visibility, live streaming, and fan engagement, the series aims to be both a racer-first and spectator-friendly experience. It’s a careful balance of adrenaline, structure, and entertainment — the kind of formula Farthing believes can elevate watercraft racing to a new national stage.
A Fresh Start
One of the biggest questions circulating in the racing community is how the new series fits alongside existing organizations. IHRA recently acquired P1’s U.S. offshore powerboat operations, but AquaX and other watercraft events remain independent, leaving racers wondering what’s changing.
Farthing was clear: “IHRA acquired P1 Offshore Powerboat Racing because they saw real value there. They did not acquire the watercraft division — and that decision was based on reality. Sponsors had pulled out, events had dwindled, and leadership lacked business experience, marketing vision, and true watercraft racing knowledge. There was no structure, no momentum, and no value proposition,” he told WCJ. “This series is a fresh start and we are clear on the goals.”
By drawing a clear line between the new IHRA series and AquaX, Farthing emphasized that the Pro Watercraft Racing Series is not a takeover or absorption of existing watercraft events. Instead, it represents a clean slate
Farthing also emphasized that the new series isn’t designed to replace regional competitions. “We’re not here to replace anyone,” he says. “If anything, we want regional series to prosper. We’d love to partner with them, help them secure sponsorship, and strengthen their regions.”
The $250,000 Promise
The series is grabbing attention with its $250,000 prize pool, but Farthing is quick to clarify that the numbers are just part of a broader plan to make professional watercraft racing sustainable and appealing.
“This first season will be a learning curve, but $250,000 is the minimum — and it can continue to grow with additional sponsorship. We’re planning 4–5 national tour rounds, finishing with a World Championship in September,” he said. “We’re inviting the entire world to participate and doing everything possible to bring international racers to the U.S. to compete against our best. This is money going back to racers’ pockets for once — and it will be worth traveling for.”
Facing Structural Challenges
Within the structure of PWRS, Farthing has laid the groundwork for addressing some of the sport’s toughest challenges.
Watercraft racing has long struggled with class disputes, tech enforcement, and inconsistent race organization — issues that have divided the sport. Farthing’s approach combines lessons learned on the track with the operational resources of IHRA.
“Every form of racing deals with this — NASCAR, Supercross, Formula One. The difference is being proactive instead of reactive,” he said. “This series will be guided by a board of directors with experience across multiple industries. With IHRA involved, we finally have the resources to do this correctly from day one.”
Aiming to keep what works, fix what doesn’t, and build a foundation for both racers and fans, Farthing said shorter race days, fewer but fuller classes, live streaming, and transponder integration are all part of the plan to improve both competition and spectator experience.
Full throttle determination
Promotion and fan engagement have always been at the heart of Farthing’s approach — whether running his race team or building successful businesses — and he plans to bring that same unrelenting energy to the new IHRA series.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Being the best means taking risks others won’t,” he stressed. “I plan to be just as relentless with this series as I’ve been with every business and race program I’ve ever built. I only know one speed — full throttle.”
Farthing is blunt about the current state of the sport: Fan interest has waned, coverage is scattered, and much of the racing world lives in echo chambers of racers’ families and social media. His goal is simple: Bring fans back in a meaningful way.
“Absolutely that is possible — but it won’t happen overnight. Shorter race days, fewer classes, fuller lines, better online visibility, and embracing modern media,” he said. “Everything today lives on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok. People watched Drive to Survive and fell in love with Formula One. Our goal is to create something people actually want to watch in watercraft racing.”
Farthing’s personality — the same mix of confidence, competitiveness, and promotional flair that’s earned him fans and critics alike — permeates the series. He’s not just running a race; he’s crafting an experience, and he wants everyone involved to feel that energy, from the racers on the water to the fans in the stands.
Stepping into the role of series manager is no small feat, especially for someone still competing at the highest levels. Farthing knows that scrutiny comes with visibility, and he’s ready for it.
“With leadership comes criticism. I’ve got big shoulders. A board of directors will handle race operations, rules, and enforcement,” he said. “If we do the work upfront, race weekends will run smoothly. I’m a racer first — and a businessman second.”
A Personal Legacy
The new series isn’t just a professional endeavor — it’s personal. Family remains central, and his sons are very much part of the picture — both as aspiring racers and as future leaders in the sport.
“They’re college students first — studying both business and sports agent that requires law degrees — and racers second. Hopefully one day, one or both of them carry this forward, but with a degree,” he said of Deven and Talan. “My father and I built everything we have together. Living the American Dream isn’t just a phrase for us — it’s our story. My greatest achievement is being able to retire my dad for everything he taught me, and become the father I am to my boys.”
By framing the series around structure, transparency, and long-term vision, Farthing aims to balance his multiple roles: racer, promoter and father. The combination of experience, family grounding, and business acumen provides a blueprint for navigating criticism, staying focused on results, and maintaining credibility in a sport where personalities run high.
A plan in progress
Looking ahead, the IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series aims to redefine the sport on a national scale. With a combination of structured race weekends, meaningful prize money, and enhanced fan engagement, Farthing and his team are laying the foundation for a professional, sustainable tour that benefits both competitors and spectators.
“Our goal is to create a Supercross-style vibe on water,” Farthing said. “Families all over the world ride watercraft and don’t even know racing exists. We want to change that and make it a show people actually want to watch.”
While questions remain — about how the series will integrate with existing regional competitions, the evolution of classes and tech enforcement, and the expansion of prize structures — one thing is clear: the sport is getting a bold new platform, led by someone who has lived and breathed it for decades.
WCJ will continue to follow the IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series as it unfolds, bringing readers updates on events, prize structures, and fan experiences as the first season takes shape. For racers, fans, and industry insiders alike, the 2026 tour promises to be the start of a new chapter for personal watercraft racing in the United States.
